Business Law and Corporate Law

Nigeria is modernizing its financial markets through two major regulatory developments: a Presidential Executive Order establishing coordinated oversight of virtual assets, and proposed SEC rules governing cross-border securities trading. These reforms aim to create a more transparent investment ecosystem while balancing innovation with investor protection and regulatory clarity.

In 2017, a discovery in Nigeria's North-East unsettled the country: relief materials meant for families displaced by conflict had allegedly been diverted and were turning up for sale in open markets. It was a blunt reminder that generosity, on its own, guarantees nothing. Comparable concerns — that charitable platforms can be exploited for illicit financing, including terrorist financing — have surfaced both in Nigeria and across the world.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has mandated that all payment transaction data generated within the country must be stored locally by January 2027, marking a significant shift in how financial institutions handle sensitive information. This directive raises critical questions about Nigeria's infrastructure readiness and the practical steps banks, mobile money operators, and payment providers must take to comply. With less than six months until the deadline, organizations face urgent decisions about data governa

Family businesses are the quiet engine of the global economy, accounting for a large share of the jobs and output of almost every country on earth. Yet they share one stubborn weakness: most do not outlive the people who build them. Studies of family enterprises find repeatedly that only a minority survive into the second generation, and fewer into the third.1 The problem is rarely a lack of talent or ambition. It is a lack of structure.

In 2017, a discovery in Nigeria's North-East unsettled the country: relief materials meant for families displaced by conflict had allegedly been diverted and were turning up for sale in open markets. It was a blunt reminder that generosity, on its own, guarantees nothing. Comparable concerns — that charitable platforms can be exploited for illicit financing, including terrorist financing — have surfaced both in Nigeria and across the world.

Nigeria has taken another significant step towards bringing virtual assets, cryptocurrency businesses and blockchain-enabled financial services within a more coordinated regulatory framework. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Presidential Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination, 2026 should not be viewed as another attempt to prohibit digital assets. Nor does it replace the existing powers of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigeria Revenue Service or other relevant agencies.

In our last Newsletter, we highlighted how licensing external tech can help you grow without losing focus on your core business objective. Now, let's flip the script, what if your IP could do the heavy lifting?

Technology transfer plays various roles in a country, the most notable being economic and technological development.

Franchising is an increasingly popular business model in Nigeria, offering entrepreneurs a way to expand their brand rapidly without the heavy capital outlay typically required for growth. The model allows for quicker...

This article examines the legal framework governing the sanctioning of directors and other corporate officers in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. It explores the regulatory mechanisms, enforcement procedures, and comparative approaches used to hold company leadership accountable for misconduct or breach of duties. The analysis provides insights into how both jurisdictions balance corporate governance with director protection.

On July 15, 2026, the Corporate Affairs Commission (the “Commission”) issued a Circular announcing the commencement of another nationwide exercise to strike-off inactive and non-compliant companies from the Register of Companies pursuant to Section 692 (3) & (4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (“CAMA”).

The Corporate Affairs Commission has set a firm deadline for Nigerian companies to comply with mandatory disclosure requirements on all business correspondence. With enforcement beginning in August 2026, businesses must ensure their letters, invoices, and official documents display specific company information or face daily penalties and potential director liability.